Statistics Act changes would give the chief statistician more power, which means there should be more scrutiny in the appointment process, say former Statistics Canada heads.

Former chief statisticians Ivan Fellegi, left, shaking hands with Independent Senator Tony Dean, and Wayne Smith, right, were witnesses before the Senate Social Affairs, Science, and Technology Committee on Nov. 30, where they called for Senators to make amendments to Bill C-36. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

A pair of former chief statisticians made a last-ditch plea to Senators last week to fix what one said was an “egregious flaw” that “fundamentally undermines” a government bill’s aim to give Statistics Canada more independence.

Gerald Butts has removed himself from the daily political grind of strategizing how to keep the Liberals in power. But observers say it's unlikely he will be consigned to watch the campaign unfold from the sidelines.

SNC-Lavalin risks a takeover if it's convicted. But aside from likely outrage in Quebec, Ottawa can find other builders for its infrastructure plans if the company is banned from bidding on federal contracts, experts say

The Quebec company had extensive access to government ministers and top staffers, and was the only organization registered to lobby for allowing deferred prosecution agreements for white collar crimes.